Storage Box that is Foldable When Not in Use

ABSTRACT

A storage box includes a flexible box body, a hard support board removably mounted in the box body to support the box body, and a cover removably mounted on the box body. The support board is receivable into the cover, and the box body is foldable when being compressed and receivable into the cover. Thus, the support board and the box body are received in the hollow inside of the cover to reduce the volume of the storage box to the minimum size so that the storage box has a smaller volume when not in use, thereby greatly saving the space of storage, and thereby facilitating packaging, storage and transportation of the storage box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a box and, more particularly, to astorage box to receive and store articles.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional storage box comprises a box body having a hollow insideto receive articles, and a cover removably mounted on the box body toclose the box body. However, the box body has a fixed volume and cannotbe folded so that the box body will occupy a determined space when notin use, thereby greatly causing in convenience to a user in packaging,storage and transportation of the storage box.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a storagebox, comprising a flexible box body, a hard support board removablymounted in the box body to support the box body, and a cover removablymounted on the box body. Thus, the support board is receivable into thecover, and the box body is foldable when being compressed and receivableinto the cover.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a storagebox that is foldable when not in use.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a storage box,wherein the support board and the box body are received in the hollowinside of the cover to reduce the volume of the storage box to theminimum size so that the storage box has a smaller volume when not inuse, thereby greatly saving the space of storage, and therebyfacilitating packaging, storage and transportation of the storage box.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a storagebox, wherein the storage box contains a decorative piece or a pluralityof patterns mounted on a surface of the box body to enhance theaesthetic quality of the storage box.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage box in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the storage box as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the storage box as shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a flexible box body of the storage box as shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a compressed state of the flexible box bodyof the storage box as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view showing a folded state of thestorage box as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a storage box in accordance with anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a storage box inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a flexible box body 31, two bendable strips 32 mounted on twoopposite first sides 312 of the box body 31, a soft piece 33 mounted inthe box body 31, a hard support board 2 removably mounted in the boxbody 31 to support the box body 31, and a cover 1 removably mounted onthe box body 31. Thus, the support board 2 is receivable into the cover1, and the box body 31 is foldable when being compressed and receivableinto the cover 1.

The cover 1 has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-sectionalprofile and has a hollow inside 12 which is defined by a peripheral wall11 which is removably mounted a top of the box body 31.

The box body 31 has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile andhas a hollow inside 34 to receive the support board 2 and the soft piece33. Each of the bendable strips 32 is disposed at an upright state andis located at a middle position of each of the first sides 312 of thebox body 31. The soft piece 33 is mounted on a bottom of the box body31.

The support board 2 has a bottom rested on a top of the soft piece 33and has a size flush with that of the hollow inside 34 of the box body31 and that of the hollow inside 12 of the cover 1 so that the supportboard 2 is receivable into the hollow inside 34 of the box body 31 andthe hollow inside 12 of the cover 1.

The box body 31 has two opposite second sides 310 located between thefirst sides 312. The second sides 310 of the box body 31 arecompressible and movable toward each other to bend the bendable strips32 toward each other and to compress the soft piece 33 so as to compressthe box body 31 so that the box body 31 is foldable to have a flatshape. Each of the second sides 310 of the box body 31 has a size flushwith that of the hollow inside 12 of the cover 1 so that the box body 31is receivable into the hollow inside 12 of the cover 1 when the box body31 is foldable to have a flat shape.

In assembly, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the support board 2 is placed intothe hollow inside 34 of the box body 31 and rested on the soft piece 33to expand and support the box body 31. Then, the cover 1 is mounted thetop of the box body 31 to close the box body 31 so that the box body 31can be used to receive and store articles 5 as shown in FIG. 3.

When not in use, the cover 1 is removed from the box body 31, and thesupport board 2 is removed from the box body 31 and received in thehollow inside 12 of the cover 1 as shown in FIG. 6. Then, the secondsides 310 of the box body 31 are compressible and movable toward eachother to bend the bendable strips 32 toward each other and to compressthe soft piece 33 as shown in FIG. 5 so as to compress the box body 31so that the box body 31 is foldable to have a flat shape. Then, the boxbody 31 is received in the hollow inside 12 of the cover 1 as shown inFIG. 6.

In such a manner, the support board 2 and the box body 31 are receivedin the hollow inside 12 of the cover 1 to reduce the volume of thestorage box to the minimum size so that the storage box has a smallervolume when not in use, thereby greatly saving the space of storage, andthereby facilitating packaging, storage and transportation of thestorage box.

As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of storage boxes are folded, and thefolded storage boxes laminate each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the storage box further comprises adecorative piece 4 mounted on a surface of the box body 31 to enhancethe aesthetic quality of the storage box.

As shown in FIG. 7, the storage box further comprises a plurality ofpatterns 40 mounted on a surface of the box body 31 to enhance theaesthetic quality of the storage box.

Accordingly, the support board 2 and the box body 31 are received in thehollow inside 12 of the cover 1 to reduce the volume of the storage boxto the minimum size so that the storage box has a smaller volume whennot in use, thereby greatly saving the space of storage, and therebyfacilitating packaging, storage and transportation of the storage box.In addition, the storage box contains a decorative piece 4 or aplurality of patterns 40 mounted on a surface of the box body 31 toenhance the aesthetic quality of the storage box.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A storage box, comprising: a flexible box body; a hard support boardremovably mounted in the box body to support the box body; a coverremovably mounted on the box body; wherein the support board isreceivable into the cover, and the box body is foldable when beingcompressed and receivable into the cover.
 2. The storage box inaccordance with claim 1, further comprising: two bendable strips mountedon two opposite first sides of the box body; a soft piece mounted in thebox body.
 3. The storage box in accordance with claim 2, wherein the boxbody has a hollow inside to receive the support board and the softpiece.
 4. The storage box in accordance with claim 2, wherein each ofthe bendable strips is disposed at an upright state.
 5. The storage boxin accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the bendable strips islocated at a middle position of each of the first sides of the box body.6. The storage box in accordance with claim 2, wherein the soft piece ismounted on a bottom of the box body.
 7. The storage box in accordancewith claim 2, wherein the support board has a bottom rested on a top ofthe soft piece.
 8. The storage box in accordance with claim 3, whereinthe cover has a hollow inside which is defined by a peripheral wallwhich is removably mounted a top of the box body.
 9. The storage box inaccordance with claim 8, wherein the support board has a size flush withthat of the hollow inside of the box body and that of the hollow insideof the cover so that the support board is receivable into the hollowinside of the box body and the hollow inside of the cover.
 10. Thestorage box in accordance with claim 8, wherein the box body has twoopposite second sides located between the first sides.
 11. The storagebox in accordance with claim 10, wherein the second sides of the boxbody are compressible and movable toward each other to bend the bendablestrips toward each other and to compress the soft piece so as tocompress the box body so that the box body is foldable to have a flatshape.
 12. The storage box in accordance with claim 11, wherein each ofthe second sides of the box body has a size flush with that of thehollow inside of the cover so that the box body is receivable into thehollow inside of the cover when the box body is foldable to have a flatshape.
 13. The storage box in accordance with claim 9, wherein thesupport board is receivable into the hollow inside of the cover afterthe support board is removable from the box body.
 14. The storage box inaccordance with claim 1, further comprising a decorative piece mountedon a surface of the box body.
 15. The storage box in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of patterns mounted on a surfaceof the box body.
 16. The storage box in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe cover has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-sectional profile.17. The storage box in accordance with claim 1, wherein the box body hasa substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile.